Dale Steyn, one of the naturally gifted superstars of the Cape Cobras, captured his 400th wicket in his 80th test against Bangladesh and boasts the best strike-rate of bowlers in the history of the game who has played in 20 tests or more. According to two former test players, Jonathan Trott and Allan Donald, he can reach at least 500.

Donald, when probed about his longevity, said the Cape Cobras and South African spearhead can reach 500. Trott, a former England batsman, said 500 or possibly even 600 when asked about Steyn’s long-term prospect on the cricket-website www.espncricinfo.com. Justin Ontong, the Cape Cobras captain, said 500 wickets is achievable for Steyn. “It is simple. If he plays in another 20 tests, he could take five wickets per test and get to 500. He should pursue it. He is a naturally strong and fit athlete. “Maybe Dale might decide to retire from one of the formats in order to prolong his test career,” Ontong said. JP Duminy, a Cape Cobras colleague of Steyn in the national team, said the best wickets taken by Steyn that he remembers, were those dismissals of Brad Haddin (the Australian wicket-keeper) when the two teams clashed in Port Elizabeth in 2014. Steyn used one of his most devastating assets, his reverse swing, to cause the death rattle behind Haddin’s back. Steyn is statistically one of the most remarkable fast bowlers of all time on the Asian subcontinent. Consider this: In 19 tests on the Asian subcontinent, he has nipped out 90 batsmen, with five five-wicket hauls. Mitchell Johnson of Australia has only managed 33 in 12 tests and the former Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee only captured six wickets in four tests in Asia. Glenn McGrath took 72 wickets in 19 tests on the subcontinent and the former West Indian fast bowling legend Malcolm Marshall finished with 71 wickets in 19 tests in Asia. Steyn was named ICC test cricketer of the year for 2008. He held the position of the number-1 ranked test bowler in the world from July 2009 until December 2013, when he was briefly overtaken by Vernon Philander. Since then, Steyn has returned to the summit of the test bowling rankings. His strike-rate of 41.5 is the fourth best of all time, and the best for all bowlers who has operated in 20 tests or more. Steyn will lead the South African attack in the One Day Internationals against New Zealand starting on the 16th August at Kingsmead.